The Greatest Player Who Never Lived : A Golf Story

Rating:
Summary: Too bad it's only fiction!
Review: Just finished reading this book, and what a great story it is! I found myself searching the internet to convince myself that Beau Stedman did NOT caddy at Augusta National. I am about to start The Greatest Course That Never Was and expect the same easy read as this was. The golf history was fascinating and the characters likable. Highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Too bad it's only fiction!
Review: Just finished reading this book, and what a great story it is! I found myself searching the internet to convince myself that Beau Stedman did NOT caddy at Augusta National. I am about to start The Greatest Course That Never Was and expect the same easy read as this was. The golf history was fascinating and the characters likable. Highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A can't put it down, who dunnit novel by Michael Veron
Review: Look out Grisham, because Michael Veron has done it with this one. The Greatest Player who Never Lived has been masterfully written and keeps you wondering as Charlie Hunter, a young law clerk reveals in Bobby Jones's old files the great playing record of Jones's private protege Beauregard Stedman. What he reveals next is the twisted secret that would keep this young man from ever competing in professional golf. This book keeps you yearning for more and leaves you wishing it were all true fact. A great can't put-it-down novel by Michael Veron.

Rating:
Summary: The greatest golfer who never lived
Review: On a recent trip thru canada, my wife read this book to me. It was a spellbinding tale that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire trip. It was quick reading and the ending blew me away. A must read for all golfers, good or bad.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful off-course read!
Review: Reading this book makes one think this acutally happened! Setting is so innocent and unassuming that you are quickly drawn into the plot to see it through. This would make a better golf movie than Bagger Vance! Would have liked to have read more from Mr. Jones' perspective. Great book which I know I'll keep and reread.

Rating:
Summary: I AGREE WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES
Review: So many times golf books, and especially golf novels are just something that you get as a gift and never read, never like and never want. Over the years, there are a few exceptions, Hogan's Five Lesson's, Dead Solid Perfect, The Little Red Book, Augusta National & The Masters: A Photographer's Scrapbook. The New York Times exclaimed this weekend that THE GREATEST PLAYER WHO NEVER LIVED is GOLF's LITERARY ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, and after not being able to put it down for two days, twisting and turning with every page, I agree that this, too, should be added to the list. Veron's refreshing style is hard to describe. Not Feinstein; closer to Grisham's earlier work. It is so wonderfully simple, yet complex and spellbinding. This isn't just a golf book, though all hardcores will love it, too...this is a book for all lovers of fiction. I can't wait for the movie !

Rating:
Summary: Reall a super book!
Review: Terrific book, believe me you won't be disappointed. Some Great Golf literature and instruction out there. Also recommend: Short Game Bible/Pelz Golf is a Woman's Game/Horn Legend of Bagger Vance/Pressfield :)

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: The author does an excellent job of developing this heretofore unimaginable story--of a world class golfer who needs to remain anonymous. By the end of the story, however, it all fits together beautifully. This book was truly a pleasure to read. By the way, the same author wrote another book (The Greatest Course That Never Was) which is equally enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Fiction laced with history
Review: The book is fiction but there is a lot of golf history which serves as a back drop to the story. A summer associate at Bobby Jones old law firm is assigned to go through Jones' files. He stumbles accross records of a protege of Jones who, because of a murder allegation, had to go underground and play the world's greatest golfers under a series of assumed names. Of course, one of the focuses of the novel is to get to the bottom of the allegations. As a 'whodunit" the outcome is predictable but, there are several other twists and surprises which are masterfully woven into the plot. A highlight of the book is a blow by blow account, replete with course descriptions, of a round of golf played at Augusta National, the famed home of the Masters. I noticed one huge mistake, the author states that the world famous Greenbrier golf resort is in Virginia. Uh uh!! It's in West Virginia. Despite that error, it is an enjoyable book which I read in a day and deserves five stars.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE READS...
Review: The Greatest Player is one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in the last year, and I am an avid reader of fiction. I read half the book the first night and told all my friends at work about it the next day, starting a wonderful discussionof what would happen next, and polished off the rest the next night. Written in first person, I loved the feel that this was a true story, and no doubt alot of this book must be. Somewhere a Beauregard Stedman lives or at least, lived. Readers will love the intrigue, mystery and wonderful pace the Mr. Veron (hard to believe, but a first time novelist) has in the book. No doubt, he will develop a following for his work. He is very talented, or I should say, on this book, his talent shines bright ! I think the book would make a superb movie.